A Hungry World

             This Sunday (October 9^th) is “World Hunger Sunday” on our denominational calendar.  Most Christian groups observe World Hunger Day at some point, usually in the fall.  Churches are encouraged to collect special offerings and send them for hunger relief.        It has been said often that the Christians of the world have the resources to end world hunger if they chose to do so.  At one point, some years ago, I believed that was true.  It may still be.  People identified as Christians control much of the wealth of the world.

            Now I don’t think the problem of hunger will ever be eradicated.  Crippling droughts have seized many lands, from the horn of Africa to areas of the United States and lands in between.  Floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, typhoons and tornadoes have interfered with food production.  Warring factions have even denied relief provided by the U.S. and other governments from reaching the populations for which it is intended.

            And in the U.S., one of the most blessed nations on earth, hunger still exists.  Religious and government entities have addressed the needs of the hungry, but have been unable to overcome it.

            Although I feel we cannot eradicate hunger, I believe it is God’s purpose for us to do what we can.  The Jimmy Hale mission reminds us on television of how little money it takes to provide a meal for one person (less than two dollars).  And we have multiple opportunities through the church and other charitable organizations to help.  And we can encourage the government to continue to provide relief around the world.

            One of the things Jesus will note at the final judgment is; “I was hungry and you gave me food.”  (Matthew 25:35)

Grace and peace.

Church as Punishment?

             I heard it on the news today (September 23).  A judge in Baldwin County has given an option to non violent prisoners; go to church or go to jail!  Area ministers working with the judge came up with the plan, convinced that regular church attendance will benefit these prisoners more than time in jail and it will also save the county money by keeping people out of jail.

            But it smacks of church going as punishment.  Many children, who have endured long services with fidgeting and boredom, would agree with this concept.  Many churches have rescued their children from this punishment by having “children’s worship” geared to children and their interests. 

            The American Civil Liberties Union has already announced a challenge to the plan.  They consider it to be an entanglement of religion and state.  In that it is a decision of the individual prisoner who must choose the option, no one will be forced to go to church.  It is a way to avoid going to prison.  Therefore, I don’t agree with the ALCU.

            And I agree with the ministers who helped to come up with the plan.  I dare say that many of these prisoners have had little or no exposure to the gospel or worship.  One of the most significant ways of turning a life around is by a commitment to Jesus Christ and a new life in Him.  I trust their church going will be a positive experience and, for some, a door to a new life.

            Maybe this idea will spread to other areas.  I hope so.  I would be happy to be one of the mentors in our area.

Grace and peace.

Labor Day

            The first Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882, in Boston, by the Central Labor Union of New York.  It became a federal holiday in 1894, when, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of  the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike.   President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with the labor movement as a top political priority.  Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike

            Dozens of people have been killed and many more injured in strikes throughout the years since.  Most strikes are less violent.  The struggle between business and labor continues, however, as evidenced by the Verizon strike which ended a couple of weeks ago. Without doubt the union movement has elevated the status of workers and gained great benefits for them.  A forty hour week and a living wage is their legacy.  But opinion is divided over them.  Cheaper labor overseas is a challenge to US businesses.

            Paul said, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”  (2 Thessalonians  3:10)  This was to counter those who were taking advantage of the early church which had all things in common.  Today there are millions in our country who want to work but cannot find a job.  This labor Day we need to thank God for improved working conditions in our generation, and petition Him to guide our leadership to find the way to economic recovery and job creation.  And we need to pray for and help those who are unemployed.

            In spite of present circumstances, as I look around the world, I’m thankful to be an American and understand why so many want to come here for a better life.

Grace and peace.

The Holy Season

            It’s that time of year.  School is back in session, to the delight of some children and to the dismay of others.   But also that “holy” season has begun.  Football, that is.  I call it holy because so many people worship the game.  One definition of worship is “to render reverence and homage to.”  When something becomes the most important thing in one’s life and its focus, it is fair to say that the person worships that thing.  Some people focus on football all year long and donate great amounts of money to have the privilege of buying the best seats in the stadium for the season.

            Now, I admit that I, too, am a fan of football. 

As a child I listened to the radio broadcasts of the Alabama games and all of us little boys tried to duplicate the jump pass of Harry Gilmer.  My oldest daughter is a graduate of Auburn and is an avid Auburn fan, as is my other daughter (who graduated from Samford) and our grandsons.  Even my wife now roots for Auburn.  But neither of us could be said to worship the game.

            I haven’t checked actual statistics, but I would not be surprised if the millions of people who fill stadiums across the nation and the many more millions who watch football television broadcasts each fall weekend outnumber those who actually attend a worship service or watch one on television.

            Worship may not be the right word, but it would be great if we could generate that kind of passion for Christ and for His kingdom.

Grace and peace.

Praying for the Council

             I gave the opening Invocation for the Birmingham City Council meeting this past Tuesday week.  I appreciated the invitation and was glad to be there to represent our Lord and Central Park Baptist Church.  But the invitation presented me with a dilemma, “What do you pray for at the city council meeting.”

            Considering the state of local politics, many things suggested themselves to me.  But my opinion is that one should not pray a political prayer at a political meeting.  After all, God knows what would be best for the city.  But men, including myself, can certainly disagree on God’s opinion or leadership.   So I did not pray concerning any issues facing the city or council.  Neither did I thank God for my "smoking hot wife," nor end with "In Jesus Name, bogady, bogady, bogady," as did the fellow who prayed for an auto race.

            What I prayed was for the council to be guided by God’s wisdom, whether they want to be so guided or not.  I also prayed that God will bless the city and its people through their efforts.  And I prayed for God’s mercy and grace on the council members and their families.  God certainly knows they need it.

            And looking at the scene in the city, the county, the state and the nation, we all need to pray mightily for our leaders.  God has the answers to all our problems.  We must pray that our leaders discern His will, not their own or that of their political party.

Grace and peace.

Bishops and bishops

            As the result of an election on July16, my next door neighbor is now the Episcopal Bishop for the state of Alabama.  Now a state Bishop in the Episcopal Church is a person with extensive power and influence.  He will receive respect and adulation from the state’s Episcopalians.  He will travel extensively as one of the governing Bishops in the United States.

            He will also walk a difficult path with all the changes going on in society and within every denomination.  Turmoil in the Episcopal Church has been openly reported in the media.

            Now the truth is, I’m a bishop too.  Note the word is spelled with a small “b.”  The translation of the Greek word bishop in the New Testament is “overseer,” and is used in conjunction with presbyter, meaning “elder,” and poimen, a word that means “shepherd” but is equivalent to the English word “pastor.”  All three of these terms are used in the New Testament to describe the leader of a local congregation.  So I am a bishop, presbyter and poimen.

            A few weeks ago my neighbor got his long handled pruning saw trapped in a large branch he was cutting.  It was fairly high and he had no way to free it.  So, like any good neighbor, I carried my extension ladder and chain saw next door, climbed up in his tree and cut the limb, freeing his saw.

            That was one bishop going to the aid of another bishop.  Now doesn’t that sound holy?  But of course it was a very mundane situation.  It was just one man going to the aid of another man.  But it also illustrates that even Bishops are just ordinary men with ordinary problems. 

Grace and peace.

The First Amendment

       The folloing is the post which was not posted at the first of the Month.  I still don't know how I goofed.

            We again celebrated our nation’s birthday on July Fourth.  We celebrate independence from Great Britain and the establishment of the United States as an independent country.  I also celebrate the establishment of a country where there is separation of church and state.

             On my van is a bumper sticker which reads, “Separation of Church and State. Good for Both.” A middle aged man, who identified himself as the son of a Baptist preacher, was loading some chairs into the van.  He commented that “Separation of Church and State” is not in the constitution but are words penned by Thomas Jefferson.  He was familiar with the issue, he assured me.  The claim that the words are not in the constitution is one of the facts marshaled against such separation by those who would end the neutrality of our government in religions affairs.  Generally they are advocates for Bible reading or study in public schools (Which Bible or which religion?), monuments or other religious symbols on government property, or government money to pay tuition to religious schools.

            Those who use this argument seem to ignore the context in which President Jefferson wrote.  In a letter of assurance to the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut in 1802, he coined the phrase in explaining the impact of the First Amendment to the Constitution.  The amendment, of course, states the government shall make no law concerning the establishment of a religion or prohibiting the free exercise of religion.  Jefferson said, “Thus building a wall of separation between church and state.”  The amendment itself, in Jefferson’s opinion, built the wall.  He was only explaining it.

            Jefferson believed religion to be a private matter between an individual and his God, and government should not get involved.  Where government has been involved with religion the results were bad for both.  We only need to study European history, or look at contemporary nations where governments seek to impose religious practice on their people.

            As we celebrate the freedom of our country, also celebrate with me freedom of religion in our country.

Grace and peace.